United States
4033- Educational counsellors
Canada NOC:
4033
Job Title:
Educational counsellors
Job Description:
Educational counsellors advise current and prospective students on educational issues, career planning and personal development, and co-ordinate the provision of counselling services to students, parents, teachers, faculty and staff. They are employed by school boards and post-secondary educational institutions.
Main Duties:
Educational counsellors perform some or all of the following duties:
Counsel students regarding educational issues such as course and program selection, time tables and scheduling, school adjustment, attendance problems and study skills
Counsel students regarding career or vocational issues including career exploration and planning, r‚sum‚ preparation, job interview skills and job search strategies and make available to them a wide range of educational and occupational information
Co-ordinate co-op and school-to-work transition programs, and the provision of counselling and information services, such as career information, professional development sessions and exchanges with other educational institutions, to students, parents, teachers, faculty and staff
Consult with teachers and parents or faculty and other professionals such as psychologists, speech therapists and social workers regarding various issues and concerns, and with administrators and community agencies regarding programs and referrals
Administer and interpret standardized intelligence, personality, vocational, aptitude and interest tests
Develop and co-ordinate study skills groups or workshops in high schools, colleges and universities on topics such as note-taking, test or examination anxiety and preparation strategies and time management skills
Visit colleges and secondary schools to provide academic information to prospective students, their parents and educational counsellors
Co-ordinate or participate in student orientation programs in colleges or universities
Arrange for employers to recruit graduating college and university students, and students for co-op education work terms
Counsel students regarding personal and social issues such as substance abuse, depression, sexuality, eating disorders, anxiety, self-esteem, family problems, relationship and interpersonal skills and anger management
Counsel students in crisis situations such as dealing with the death of a friend or family member, suicidal tendencies and abuse situations
May supervise peer counselling programs in school settings
May supervise field experience for graduate students in counselling
May teach regular classes.
Employment Requirements:
A bachelor's degree in counselling, career development, education or social sciences is required for counsellors in school settings.
A master's degree in counselling psychology or a related field such as educational psychology, developmental psychology or social work is usually required.
Educational counsellors in post-secondary settings require an undergraduate degree and may require a graduate degree. A particular academic specialization may also be required.
In Quebec, membership in L'Ordre des conseillers et conseillŠres d'orientation et des psycho‚ducateurs et psycho‚ducatrices du Qu‚bec is mandatory to use the title ''counsellor''.
A teacher's certificate in the province of employment and some teaching experience is usually required for counsellors in school settings.
Educational counsellors in colleges and universities may require licensing from a provincial regulatory body governing psychologists, educational counsellors or social workers.
Additional Inormation:
Elementary school counsellors generally provide more social and personal counselling whereas academic counselling is provided more by high school counsellors.
Educational counsellors in colleges, universities and other settings may specialize in academic, career or personal issues counselling.
Classified Elsewhere:
Similar O*NET Careers (USA) :
International Careers(ISCO):
Source Of Info:
National Occupation Classification, (2011)
Statistics Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada,
February 2012,
Catalogue no. 12-583-X
